Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-06-04

counting room. Humanity. Its sufferings, It's
service, il a creed which takes US all in.
And who are young men9 The old man Is
he who sits around with nothing TO do. ii
Is gray though his years ere hr. two and
twenty. man Is young under eighty who
has preserved the fire, the energy. above all
the quick and tender sympathies OF his early
manhood. IL is needless 20 remark we are
dwelling In an age which is eai nest In its call
10 duty and provides field for the highest
heroism. No sentiment can be more exalted
than this Of human responsibility:
"The world wants men-large- hearted, manly
Men who shall join It's chol us, and Or olong
The psalm OF labor and the psalm,oi love,
The times wants scholsrs-scholars who shall
The doubtful destinies Of dubious year
And land the ark that bears our country's
good,
safe ON some peaceful Ararat at last.
The age wants heroes-herOes who rhall dare
To struggle In the solid ranks Of truth
And heaven wants souls-fresh and capacious
souls
To taste It's raptures and expand like flowers
Beneath the glory OF Its central sun.
1t wants fresh souls, not lean and shrivelled
1t wants fresh souls, my brother-give 1t
thine
II thou indeed wilt be what scholars should,
II thou wilt be hero and wilt strive
To help thy fellow and exalt myself"
Here then, my friends, we meet upon this
common ground of conflict as men against
passion. misery and sin, struggling for the
knighthood which crowns victorious Chris
tan character. Youth has many character
istics which interest me, and these are
prophecies OF good to unfolding life. My
text says "the glory" &c. The old man, with
failing step and decaying powers, has not this
strength. His life is In retrospect, in history.
But the young man looks lnto the future-his
Is the day before the battle. The strength OF
the text Isl
/. The freshness of youth. Hopes unsullied,
Joys unfaded. 1t is the romance Of life. Say
not II is dream. The poetry will all be real
lied, though not quite as anticipated. Let no
gloomy pessimism, no sour skepticisin, ever
displace the freshness OF youth.
Q. The strength of young men is In energy.
The old man has tainted by the waysido. The
youth carries his burden because he is strong.
Who putllfe into business, zeal into missionsY
Who people the great territories and make
the West realm of marvellous enterprise !?
Young men.
3. The strength oil young men is In their
courage. Old soldiers are brave because they
are veterans, but they know the dangers OF
t,ie battlefield. The young man recks not the
peril, the fire of youth animat6s him.
| 4. Young men are strong in faith. skeptic-
| ism comes often through experience-it need
not-but the young man naturally and In
stinctively trusts. He has perfect faith be-
cause he has not been deceived, neither has
he deceived others.
| s. And the pure young man is strong In his
honesty. Alas for the social teaching of an
age OF commercial dishonesty. Alas for old
rogues corrupting the young men. But the
sen of faithful parents goes out into the world
with truth and honesty stamped upon hi,
brow and looking calmly from innocent eyes
You will notice have said nothing in ny
sermon that might be called specific religious
teaching. 1t has been for q purpose, yet
hope some good motives have been inspired
Let me remind you that you live in lane
rich as was ancient Sparta In traditions o
heroism. No country ever wrought out char
a ter in culture more exquisite than that o
ante bellum days in the South. Its heroisn
was tested Oft in martyrdom from 1861 to 1866
Though the times are changed those OLE
ideals are worth preserving and Incorporating
into the duty and life of these earnest days
$50 rebuke the ages popular crime,
We need the souls of fire; the hearts of tina
old time"
"Oh be thou jealous in thy youth,
Fill every day with noble tolls
Fight for the victories Of truth
And deck thee with her deathless spoils.
"For those whose livesare in retreat
| Their valOr and ambition flown
In vain the 'larum drum is beat;
In vain the battle trumpet blown"